The US House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to censure Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib, US Congress’ lone Palestinian-American lawmaker, for comments she made regarding Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
Twenty-two Democrats joined with most Republicans in the chamber to censure Tlaib for allegedly “promoting false narratives” on Hamas’ Oct. 7 gun rampage in Israel and “calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.”
The motion was sponsored by Republican Representative Richard McCormick. The final vote tally in the Republican-controlled chamber was 234 to 188 in favor of censure. Four Republicans voted against the motion, while three Democrats and one Republican abstained.
Photo: AFP
Tlaib has repeatedly condemned Hamas’ assault, which killed about 1,400 people, while also criticizing US support for Israel as Israel’s military retaliates with bombardment that has killed thousands of Palestinians in Gaza.
The measure specifically cited a video Tlaib published on social media containing the phrase “from the river to the sea,” a pro-Palestinian rallying cry that is viewed by many Jews as anti-Semitic and calling for Israel’s eradication.
She also enraged many Democrats on Friday last week when she posted a video accusing US President Joe Biden of supporting “the genocide of the Palestinian people.”
Photo: AFP
Israel vehemently rejects accusations of genocide.
Tlaib rejected accusations of anti-Semitism during a speech on the US House of Representatives floor on Tuesday.
“I am the only Palestinian-American in Congress, and my perspective is needed more than ever,” Tlaib said. “My criticism has always been of the Israeli government and [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s actions... The idea that criticizing the government of Israel is anti-Semitic sets a very dangerous precedent.”
The symbolic rebuke has no specific punishment. Although it was previously a rare measure used against members, it has become increasingly common in recent years.
In other news, California police briefly detained a pro-Palestinian protester over the death of a Jewish man following a confrontation between two rival rallies, but no arrest has been made, officials said on Tuesday.
Ventura County sheriff James Fryhoff said Paul Kessler’s death from a head injury after falling to the ground “is being investigated as a homicide,” and investigators have not yet ruled out the possibility of a hate crime.
A search warrant was obtained for a 50-year-old local man who attended a rally “advocating for Palestine,” and admitted to being involved in an “altercation” with Kessler, Fryhoff told a press conference.
However, “the suspect has not been arrested. No arrests have been made related to this incident,” he said.
The incident took place during dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian rallies involving about 100 people on Sunday in Thousand Oaks, northwest of Los Angeles.
Police arriving at the scene found that Kessler, 69, had fallen backward and fatally struck his head on the ground.
“What exactly transpired prior to Mr Kessler falling backward isn’t crystal clear right now,” said Fryhoff.
The suspect “willingly remained at the scene,” and told police he was among those who phoned 911 for medical assistance.
Kessler died in hospital early Monday. The suspect was detained at a traffic stop later that day, while his home was searched, and interviewed again.
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